Burb 2500 (2008-2013)

Knminton wrote:


Would you happen to know your curb weight with a full tank of gas? Documentation is hard to come by on the GMT800 stuff, and I know the big three have a history of questionable ratings.

Hi,

First off, good for you! You are digging into this and trying to sort it out and understand why in the process. We commend you.

You have a good start on the weights and ratings. I'll add some things that may help.

I use to tow with a 2003, K2500 Suburban. the 6.0 with the 4.10 rear axle. Mine even had Quadrasteer rear steering. That was a very nice truck and sad to see it go. Only reason for trading I was on the edge of the capacity of the truck.

I towed 2 campers with that truck. Both were within the ratings of the truck but the second one was at the ratings of the truck and I could not fully load the camper.

Here is the first camper.


The entire GCW was 13,680#. The truck with my cargo in it, weighed 7,560# before hitching up. After I hitched and applied WD, I was at 8,500# GVW. I had the ability to upgrade the receiver. I happen to have those weight in my on line photo bucket. See here.

Note: The Quadrasteer added 300# and I removed the 75# 3rd row seat.



The truck handled that camper very well here on the east coast. I had no issues towing with it until the day I changed tires. Then a new learning came about tire side wall stiffness and the lack of it what it can do to a rig.

I then upgraded the camper to the one in my sig. I knew a new TV was in my future as in my case I could only handle 1,200# of TW on the Burb and I was limited at the 16,000# GCWR. But I did tow with it on this camper until the F350 came. I just could not load the camper fully.


My GCW was 15,760# and the Burb loaded and hitched weighed 8,540#. Yup, I filled the capacity of the truck. My camper and F350 when fully loaded now is 17,800# GCW and the truck is at 9,500# with cargo and the TT hitched and WD engaged.

Here is a GM web site where you can add up options and what a shipping weight can be. They only go back 3 years so you just missed out on the 2500Burb in the GMT900. But it might help.
GM shipping weight site You select the year, then truck, then in the top right select Suburban, then model and weight options and use the weight calculator and start adding options. Then when you get to the end, it gives you a front and rear axle weight.

I have found on a Suburban, book curb weights are usually light as they do not have all the goody options that normally comes with one. Head up, there could be 300 to 500# of options.

Are you looking at 4WD? It helps with traction, but it adds weight.

I looked up your floor plan. Nice camper. Never seen 3 bunks like that. That should help with sleeping your family. You are very wise starting out with the 3P hitch. Good for you.

From a fellow camper friend and past Burb tower, you are going to have to watch the weights in the truck. As your family grows, the weights are going to go up. The 3P is going to add weight, you need the hitch so your going to have to manage around it. the 1,000# WD receiver rating is going to hurt. And as you start adding "stuff" to haul to the campground, the stuff has to go somewhere. Does the family go biking? Bikes can be a challenge...Been there done that...

I'm assuming you are looking at the Burb for a 6 passenger camper hauler? The 3rd row seat helps with that for sure.

I'll throw this out there, a 3/4 ton Crew Cab Short bed PU. The back seat can be as big as the Suburban 2nd row seat and leg room. If you get the bench seats, you can still have 6 seat belts. I know it will be tighter without the 3rd row seat but you will not have truck weight issues and you have a truck bed for fire wood, bikes and all the other "stuff" we all haul to the CG. I had 4 SUV's before I went to the PU. I loved them all but when it came to hauling weight and gear, the PU won hands down. And it was cheaper to at parity in cost but you can haul more weight and have more gear room.

Some day you will need a larger truck then the Suburban if you are going to keep camping. Or split up the kids between 2 vehicles. The Burb is going to limit you on loaded TW and GVWR. I'm not trying to talk you out of the 2500 Burb, just passing along what I have learned along the way. When I went to our 2500 Burb, I should of went to the PU then. But I didn't and later did.

Hope this helps and good luck

John